Contact-key for sockets of electric incandescent lamps.



No. 685,295. Patented Oct. 29, I90].

I a. H. PROCTOR. CONTACT KEY FOR SOCKETS 0F ELECTRIC INGANDESCENT-LAMPQ.

A gnmion filed m 15, 1901.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E'.

GUY H. PROOTOR, OF SQMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTACT-KEY FOR SOCKETS OF HECTRICINCANDESCENT LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,295, dated October 29, 1901.

Application filed May 15, 1901.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUY H. PROCTOR, a citi-. zen of the United States, and a resident of Somerville, Middlesex county,Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Contact-Keys for Sockets of Electric Incandescent Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is an improved contact-key for turning on and off the electric current.

My invention consists in a device new in g the construction of its parts and as a whole for turning on and oi the electric current in incandescent-lamp sockets.

My invention will be plain from the drawings, in which- Figure l is a sideview of a lamp and socket of the Thomson-Houstonvariety, showing a part of my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the 'line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side View of my invention, showing the spring in contact with the lamp of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 6 is a side view of my invention applied in an Edison socket, the socket being shown in sectionl Fig. 7 is an underneath plan of my invention applied to an Edison socket, as shown in Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 are details showing the wedge-piece f hereinafter described.

Similar letters throughout the drawings apply to similar parts.

I will now explain the drawings.

' A is an incandescent lamp. The lamp may be of the Edison, Thomson-Houston, Westinghouse, or other variety.

B is the shell of lamp A.

O is the insulating-block.

D is a supporting piece or standard having the upturned ends or cars at d to support the key-shaft and the upturned ears d d to support the contact-spring.

E is the contact-spring, bent so as to journal about the pivot e, supported in the ears (1' d, and having the end 6', which is the contact end, and substantially atright angles to that the end 6 by which it is operated.

F is the key-handle, and f its shaft, supported in the ends at d. Upon the shaft f is a rigid cam or projection f and the loose serial No. 60,310. (No model.)

perforated wedge f through which the key shaft passes. The wedge f is'adapted to bear against the end e of the spring E.

G is a spring adapted to steady the wedge f in either of its two positions.

H is a coiled spring bearing against the end 6 of the contact-spring E.

I will now explain the operation of my key. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the end e of the contact-making spring E is not in electrical contact with the lamp. Upon now turning the handle F either to the right or left the projection or cam f will force the wedge piece f forward along the rod f and press its apex against the arm 6 of the con tact-spring E, thus causing a rocking motion, causing the end 5: to come in contact with the lamp. This movement has also compressed slightly the coiled spring H. Upon turning the handle another quarter of a turn either backward or forward the apex of the wedge f will be withdrawn from the arm e and the coiled spring H will force the arm .2 back into the position shown in Fig. 3 and of course withdraw the end e from contact with the lamp. It will be seen that a quarterturn in either direction from the position shown in Fig. 3 will make the contact, and after that is made a quarter-turn in either direction will interrupt the contact between the end of the spring 6 and the lamp.

My invention is as applicable to a Thomson-Houston socket as to an Edison socket, as will be seen by comparison of the drawings, the only difierence being that in the one case the contact will be made with the Edison shell X, as shown in Fig. 6, and in the case of the Thomson Houston contact will be made with the lamp-base itself, as shown in Fig. 4. The parts of both varieties of lampsockets are too well-known to require further description.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- Inan electric incandescent-lamp socket, a making and breaking device composed of the standard D having the ears d d to support the key-shaft, and the ears d d to support the pivot for the holding-spring, the contactspring E having the ends 6', c and the pivot e therefor, the key F, the key shaft f, pin or projection f for moving the Wedge-piece f circuit is to be broken; substantially as deloosely on the key-shaft and serving to comscribed. 10 press the coiled spring and also to move the In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand contact-spring E to cause its end e to make this 14th day of May, 1901.

5 and break contact, holding-spring G for hold- GUY H. PROOTOR.

ing the wedge-piece in its various positions, In presence ofand coiled springH for restoring the contact- W. H. HASTINGS,

spring and wedge-piece to position when the J. H. IIURLEY. 

